LCMS and Their Calvinist Church Unique From a Reader

From a Reader -

Hello Pastor Jackson

 

I would like to share with you some information I found about a Church Growth program in the LCMS called 'Church Unique'.

 

Recently I was told that a page appeared in an LCMS church's website announcing a initiative called 'Church Unique'. That is the name of a book by Will Mancini, a former Reformed minister. Here is a link to Will Mancini's website:

 

https://www.willmancini.com/

 

'Church Unique' is also the name of a program. According to the Church Unique website "Church Unique was written by church consultant Will Mancini, an expert on a new kind of visioning process to help churches develop a stunningly unique model of ministry that leads to redemptive movement."

 

Here is a link to the Church Unique website:

 

http://www.churchunique.com/

"Church Unique is primarily about your church's identity. It show church leaders how to identify and unlock their congregation's individual identity as a tool for unleashing their one-of-a-kind potential."

 

Here is a link to the website of the consulting company (Auxano) he formed to train people in the Church Unique program:

 

http://auxano.com/

 

After browsing thru these websites it is clear to me that the Church Unique program is pure Calvinst, Church Growth Movement, Enthusiasm. I don't understand how or why a LCMS church would become involved in something like this.

 

I did an internet search using dogpile.com (this doesn't work with Google) using the following keywords

 

+LCMS +"church unique"

 

and it returned a couple of pages of links to LCMS churches which are involved in the Church Unique program and to LCMS meetings in which Church Unique was discussed. It appears that Church Unique may have support from the LCMS hierarchy, not only from the district hierarchies.

 

The LCMS has its own in-house Church Growth entity called Transforming Churches Network (TCN). TCN was founded about 8 or 9 years ago and was very high-profile for a few years, but I don't recall hearing anything about it recently. Perhaps the TCN fervor ran its course, and now Church Unique is the

hot Church Growth program in the LCMS.

 

I hope this information is interesting to you. In your blog you mention the CGM activities in the WELS, but it appears that the LCMS is not immune.

GJ - 

Missouri is whole hog into Church Growth, with five named people in the dubiously titled Church Growth Hall of Fame, or is that Shame?

Waldo Werning, who was Herman Otten's "secret agent," promoted CG throughout WELS, the Little Sect, and the LCMS.

Robert Preus, earlier a rabid advocate of UOJ, had Werning on his faculty and endorsed Church Growth.

I tend to name WELS false teachers more often, because I know a greater percentage of them. UOJ and Church Growth go together like Sam and Ella - salmonella, get it?

The Unspoken Word - Abuse of Members and Church Growth Tactics Have Murdered and Scattered the Flocks

 http://blogs.lcms.org/2015/synod-leaders-assess

UOJ is absent in Lutherdom until the era of rationalistic Pietism
- thank-you Calvin -
as this Book of Concord quotation shows.
But the Emmaus conference will force-feed
to their robotic followers anyway.

Synod leaders assess church decline, future at summit

on March 3, 2015 in NEW THIS WEEK, NEWS, REPORTER2 

By Roger Drinnon

ST. LOUIS — Factors behind the Synod’s overall numerical decline — down about 12 percent in the last decade alone — might not be what you think, in some cases.

Dr. Ryan MacPherson, right, a professor at Bethany College and president of “Into Your Hands” consulting, talks with the Rev. Al Tormoehlen, director of The 72, part of the LCMS’ Witness & Outreach Ministry, during a break from the “Generational Generosity” summit Feb. 3 at the LCMS International Center. MacPherson presented findings from his recent study, which looked at underlying factors for the Synod’s membership decline. (LCMS/Frank Kohn)

[GJ - Al Tormoehlen, Stolzenburg's co-worker,  told me how promiscuous Floyd Luther Stolzenburg was, but WELS welcomed Floyd with open arms, and the ELS worked with him through Thoughts of Faith, John Shep, Jay Webber, and Roger Kovacincy. Conclusion - run as fast as you can from the WELS-ELS-LCMS. Hide your daughters, your sons, and your wives.]

The Synod’s Office of National Mission (ONM) hosted Dr. Ryan MacPherson, a professor at Bethany College, Mankato, Minn., and president of “Into Your Hands” consulting, Feb. 3 at the LCMS International Center here. MacPherson outlined some reasons for the Synod’s demographic decline while dispelling myths and offering recommendations for Synod leaders and laity attending his “Generational Generosity” summit.

MacPherson listed several “standard stories” — assumptions Missouri Synod Lutherans might hold to as either causes of or remedies for the decline. He debunked them all, based on his research. Some of these assumptions and MacPherson’s findings included:

• “If only we could evangelize more like the Baptists.”MacPherson: The Southern Baptist Convention is also in decline and cannot boast of any higher evangelism gains above the LCMS.

• “LCMS is a rural Synod while America is increasingly urban.”MacPherson: Rural, suburban and urban congregations all are experiencing a decline.

• “If only we weren’t so conservative, more people would come and more would stay.”MacPherson: Facts show liberal church bodies have declined even faster than conservative ones.

Two major factors account for most of the downward trend in LCMS membership, according to MacPherson’s study. First, the birth rate has been declining for over 50 years for white-Anglo Americans of Northern European descent — a major Synod demographic. His study revealed that rising rates of divorce and non-marital cohabitation among younger people have exacerbated this challenge the Synod now faces.

Second, over the past 20 years, the retention rate of baptized infants as they grow up toward youth confirmation age also has declined.

“Only about half of the children baptized a decade-and-a-half ago were present for confirmation in the past few years,” noted MacPherson.

MacPherson said LCMS preschools and other such schools and childhood centers are commendable, but he cautioned that these are not a panacea for attracting young families.

His study showed that child baptisms plunged 55 percent from 1990 to 2010, a time frame when LCMS childhood centers were growing in number and enrollment.

“Although congregations with schools and elementary schools have tended to have a higher child-retention rate than congregations without schools, the retention advantage conferred by schools has been declining,” he said. “It seems that more and more families connect with a congregation for preschool, but then disengage in the years that follow.”

However, MacPherson emphasized that with half or more of LCMS preschool children being from outside the Synod, early-childhood centers present a significant mission opportunity, noting that programs focused on children often fail to engage the parents for the long term. He posited that more adult-to-adult ministry is needed as well as a holistic approach to young families.

“The family will be a key part of the LCMS’ future strength in sharing the Gospel,” said the Rev. Nathan Meador, assistant coordinator of stewardship for the ONM. “This report serves as a call to come to grips with who we have been, who we are now and then to seize the God-given opportunities to be who God called us to be. There is the idea that we are headed toward being a smaller church body in the future. It is accompanied by the reality that we hold a strong position as a ‘faithful remnant church’ going forward.”

Meador and the Rev. Heath Curtis, ONM stewardship coordinator, brought MacPherson to the International Center for the summit as part of the ONM’s stewardship-ministry efforts.

Roger Drinnon (roger.drinnon@lcms.org) is manager of Editorial Services for LCMS Communications.

"We have been sent to warn the Synodical Conference
against justification by faith, the efficacy of the Word, and the Means of Grace,
thanks to a Thrivent grant from Branch #666."

Fox Valley Lutheran High (WELS) - Assemblies of God Training for Future Pentecostals

The ACLC - The Rolf Preus Synod - Opposes Justification by Faith

Pastor Steve Brockdorf

http://theaclc.org/Informative/Official%20Critique%20of%20the%20ELDoNA%20Theses%20on%20Justification.pdf

The Bridge Too Far - St. Paul WELS in Muskegon. Their Old CoWo Service Was Not Boho CoWO

The Bridge will host a grand opening service Oct. 20. Photo Credit: St. Paul's Lutheran Church

http://muskego.patch.com/groups/around-town/p/new-church-on-st-paul-campus-aims-to-bridge-gaps?ncid=newsltuspatc00000001&evar4=picks-1-post&newsRef=true&a_dgi=aolshare_facebook

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Throughout its 156-year history, St. Paul's Lutheran Church has never hesitated to offer new services it feels the community needs.

Forty years ago, it was an elementary school. Twenty years ago, pre-kindergarten. Child care followed next.

About eight years ago, St. Paul's began offering a contemporary service, with a band leading congregation members in a casual setting, to go along with its traditional service.

Now St. Paul's begins a new church altogether: The Bridge, which aims to reach those who may be unfamiliar with Christian churches.

The Bridge will extend what St. Paul offers in its contemporary services, with a band performing on a stage in the gymnasium. Services will be held Sundays at 10:15 a.m., beginning with a grand opening celebration Oct. 20.

The church wants to share "the good things we have in a way that's familiar and accessible to people who didn't grow up in either the local church or the church world in general," Pastor John Backus said.

"We want to be considerate of where (people) are coming from, if they're new to the community or maybe even new to the concept of church."

In addition to the uplifting music, which will simulate a concert-like atmosphere, the order of service will better serve the intended audience, Pastor Pete Panitzke said. Instead of leading off the service with the confession of sins, for example, the Bridge will put that at the end and focus on broader messages of Christian faith, he said.

Instead of stained-glass windows to convey imagery, the Bridge will use digital means, with video screens set up in the gymnasium. Teachers and pastors will be in jeans, reflecting the church's casual environment.

The Bridge will also offer coffee and a nursery, as well as parking lot attendants who will help people find the correct building.

"We talked a lot about ... what could we do to put (people) at ease, to let them know we're a friendly place where they're not going to get beat up on or judged and sent home with their tail between their legs," Backus said. [GJ - Eighth Commandment!]

St. Paul officials began mulling creating a new church after noting how much the community has changed over the past 30 years, transforming from a rural community to a suburban one, and realizing that many new residents wouldn't have long roots in a local church.

St. Paul Muskegon -
putting the "con" in
confessional.

They got serious enough about the idea to form a task force in April, community outreach coordinator Sally Wallner said. [GJ - Assuming Sally is a girl - another lady pastor.]

Five months later, St. Paul is getting ready to host a whole new church on its campus.

"I'm really looking forward to the opportunity, as a Christian, to share good things about discovering God that can help other people," Backus said. "I'm looking forward to being able to speak honestly and authentically, in a pair of jeans. I'm really going to enjoy the atmosphere."

Church Growth Project - WELS

http://www.intrepidlutherans.com/2013/09/church-growth-project.html#comment-form

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2013

Church Growth Project

More Sharing ServicesShare|Share on facebookShare on myspaceShare on googleShare on twitter

Below is a project proposal submitted by Intrepid readers Mr. Vernon Knepprath and Mr. Bryan Lidtke. Their concerns about the pervasive Church Growth theology in the WELS (among other doctrinal concerns, I would add) deserve careful investigation. A link to the original PDF document is available by clicking on the title below. Comments and discussion are welcome.
__________________________________________________________

‘Church Growth’ Inroads in the WELS as Observed on WELS Local
Church Website Home Pages 

If one is unfamiliar with the term ‘Church Growth’ (hereafter referred to as CG), it would be easy to assume that anything named CG must be a good thing, just as “church” plus “growth” would be a good thing. After all, God has commissioned us to go into “all the world” to teach and preach His saving Truth. Of course God wants more people to hear and learn the Gospel. Of course God wants more people in church worshipping Him on Sunday mornings.

But the term CG is commonly associated with a movement that is not primarily about “growing in the knowledge and truth of God’s Word.” It is primarily concerned with putting more people in the pews. And to do that, it utilizes things other than the Means of Grace – God’s Word and Sacraments. The CG movement is a danger because it leads to situations where the Means of Grace, the only means of creating and sustaining faith, are diminished to the point where there is no longer a focus on “growing in the knowledge and truth of God’s Word.”

That the CG movement has made inroads in the WELS there can be no denying. Sadly, the emphasis on buildings and programs and methodologies has become so prevalent, that it is increasingly difficult to recognize the Scriptural purpose of the church in many congregations in the WELS. This can be observed by simply looking at the home page of some WELS church websites. The prominence of CG methodology on these websites can be a good indicator of CG practices within the local church itself.

The home page of any church website gives a unique view into the purpose and mission of a church. The website home page does, and must, speak for itself. It is a unique opportunity to provide a message for visitors to the website who might never consider walking into the physical church building or calling on the telephone to inquire about services. What message will the website visitor find on a church’s home page?

With that question before us, a project is being undertaken, and is described in this proposal, to characterize websites of WELS churches to assess the message found on the website home page. The analysis is limited to only the home page of WELS church websites, and the intention is to have the analysis be simple and straightforward and factual.

The home page of a WELS church website will be assessed by looking for clear evidence of the Gospel, the Means of Grace, and confessional Lutheran standards. Specifically, the analysis will look for clear evidence of 1) the Gospel message, 2) God’s Word, 3) the Sacraments, 4) the name “Lutheran”, 5) the Lutheran Confessions and 6) the liturgical service. Further explanation of these six criteria is given in the following paragraphs:

1. The Gospel message – we are all sinners in need of a savior, and Jesus Christ is that Savior. The Scriptural purpose of a Christian church is clear, to spread the Gospel. A church which takes that purpose seriously will have the Gospel message, in some form or fashion, on the home page of their website. CG methodology may steer clear of a specific Gospel message out of fear that acknowledging all people as sinners in need of a Savior would be offensive to some.
2. God’s Word – the Means of Grace. God works through the Means of Grace, and that alone. In many cases a church has only one chance to proclaim God’s Word to a website visitor. That one chance is the home page. A website visitor may never go further than the home page, therefore one cannot take for granted the possibility that a website visitor will dig deeper into the web site to find God’s Word. CG methodology may steer clear of specific references to God’s Word because website visitors might not consider it “real” or “relevant” to today’s world.
3. The Sacraments – the Means of Grace. Very few Christian churches confess and teach that the Sacraments create and strengthen faith, treating them instead as mere symbolic acts. CG methodology may steer clear of the Bible’s clear teachings about Baptism and the Lord’s Supper because they obviously conflict with the opinions of many, including many Christian churches.
4. The Lutheran name – Those who believed and confessed as Luther did were called "Lutherans" by their enemies. Christians who believe, confess, and teach what Luther taught rightly call themselves Lutheran today (paraphrase from wels.net). CG methodology would likely not want to draw attention to the “Lutheran” in their name, if it exists, out of fear of seeming exclusive or “sect-like.”
5. The Lutheran Confessions – Lutherans believe that Bible truths were correctly understood and shared in writings that early Lutherans provided in the Book of Concord (finished in 1580). These are known as the Lutheran Confessions. Reading these confessional statements and examining them in the light of the Bible (always the primary and central authority) is to be encouraged (paraphrase from wels.net). CG methodology would likely avoid mention of the Lutheran Confessions out of fear that they would be considered even less “real” and “relevant” than the Bible.
6. The liturgical service – The liturgy provides the fullness and richness of God’s Word, and only God’s Word. Visitors to a liturgical church can be assured that worship services will be Scripturally sound. CG methodology would likely avoid mention of the Liturgy in an effort to appear “modern” and “in.”

For this project, each of these criteria are scored ‘green’ (strong evidence), ‘yellow’ (inconclusive evidence) or ‘red’ (no evidence or opposing CG evidence) for each church website. In some cases, comments are provided (red triangle in upper right hand corner of the cell) to explain the scoring. But where the scoring is thought to be self-evident, comments are not provided.

The following is a sample of six WELS congregations from the NW Wisconsin district (names excluded here), providing an example of the scoring matrix for the six criteria indicated above.

Along with the spread sheet scoring matrix, a screen print or “snip it” of the church website home page is captured on a PowerPoint slide. Some website home pages change frequently, while some change rarely or never. It is important that the website home page on which the scoring is based is captured (with the date) for record keeping. An example can be seen below:

The work completed on this project to date has been done by two individuals, taking into consideration suggestions and direction from others. This proposal serves as an announcement of this project and a call for assistance. Additional input is welcome. Those who wish to assist are asked to contact me at vernon.knepprath@gmail.com to coordinate and align efforts.

The project scope will include websites of a significant number of WELS congregations in each district. Analysis will be performed in a manner to minimize individual bias by having multiple inputs for each congregational website. Analysis will compare results and look for trends within each district, and compare results from district to district. With more resources, the project scope can be expanded to include more congregations in the analysis and more inputs can be provided per church website. The project could be carried out in multiple phases, with each phase including more districts or more congregations within each district.

Results could be reported many different ways. One decision yet to be made is whether scoring should be associated with individual church names, or whether identifying information be excluded from the report.

Excluding individual church names will limit the analysis to looking at general trends within a district and from district to district, and making a general assessment of the extent of CG influence in the WELS. This approach has a benefit of minimizing the potential for a defensive reaction by individual congregations that might not be happy with the scoring results assigned to their website home page. If defensiveness can be avoided, the likelihood of congregations considering the project results and adjusting their web site home pages to a more Scriptural and confessional Lutheran message might be enhanced.

Including church names and associating them directly with the scoring results has the benefit of highlighting the real divisions and variations in teaching and practice that already exist. But that emphasis might provoke defensiveness that could have the effect of inhibiting some congregations from moving to a more Scriptural and confessional Lutheran message on their website home page.

As previously stated, the purpose of this project is to characterize CG inroads in the WELS. There is obvious bias in that statement. Everything has bias. It is never a question of whether bias exists, but whether the bias is perceived to be favorable or unfavorable. The bias that exists in this project is toward faithfulness to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions. It is a bias that I believe most faithful Christians would view as favorable. And it is a bias consistent with what the WELS and all member churches claim to be in agreement with.

While the purpose of this project is to characterize CG inroads in the WELS, there is another more positive perspective to this work. That perspective is to consider what might be good and reliable guidelines for a confessional Lutheran website home page.

Shouldn’t a home page, first and foremost, display the Gospel message? Shouldn’t one find, first and foremost, the Means of Grace, because this is what God works through to bring the lost to faith. Shouldn’t one find a confessional statement or reference? Or is our faith in God’s promises so compromised that one must promote contemporary worship on a website home page as a clever technique to draw people in. Must we on a Christian church home page advertise a preschool/daycare facility, or announce a fund raising event, or promote a life coaching seminar in place of a Gospel message, a verse from God’s Word or a confession of faith?

What is most important to a congregation should and can be found on the website home page. What is the message a church is trying to convey on its website home page? Is CG most important, or is it sharing the Gospel message to a dying world?

Classic Ichabod - Slavishly Following the Missionals or Emergents.Change or Die, As WELS and the Episcopalians Say

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Brian McLaren and Andy Stanley - The Heroes of Emergent Church Growth -
Slavishly Followed by WELS, LCMS, ELS.
AKA Missional or Becoming Missional

McCained from Wikipedia:

I don’t believe making disciples must equal making adherents to the Christian religion. It may be advisable in many (not all!) circumstances to help people become followers of Jesus and remain within their Buddhist, Hindu or Jewish contexts … rather than resolving the paradox via pronouncements on the eternal destiny of people more convinced by or loyal to other religions than ours, we simply move on … To help Buddhists, Muslims, Christians, and everyone else experience life to the full in the way of Jesus (while learning it better myself), I would gladly become one of them (whoever they are), to whatever degree I can, to embrace them, to join them, to enter into their world without judgment but with saving love as mine has been entered by the Lord (A Generous Orthodoxy, 260, 262, 264).

And....

"Even if we are convinced that all homosexual behavior is always sinful, we still want to treat gay and lesbian people with more dignity, gentleness, and respect than our colleagues do. If we think that there may actually be a legitimate context for some homosexual relationships, we know that the biblical arguments are nuanced and multilayered, and the pastoral ramifications are staggeringly complex. We aren't sure if or where lines are to be drawn, nor do we know how to enforce with fairness whatever lines are drawn."

And...

"Our interpretations reveal less about God or the Bible than they do about ourselves. They reveal what we want to defend, what we want to attack, what we want to ignore, what we're unwilling to question..." (A New Kind of Christian, 50)

Remember Rob Bell, the apostate "evangelist" who rejected Christian doctrine in Love Wins? McLaren defended Rob Bell - and why not? - McLaren teaches the same Universalism while denying he is a Universalist!

More of McLaren's ravings are quoted here.

Sound familiar WELS fans?

The Church Growth Movement, which was centered at Fuller Seminary (training ground for most LCMS, WELS, ELCA, and ELS leaders) has morphed or metastasized into Emergent Church/Becoming Missional.

ELCA pastors probably put up more fuss about Church Growth than the other Lutheran groups put together. They cross-referenced each other, too. They left ELCA in disgust and joined the Church of Rome, which also uses Church Growth methods. Justice! Neuhaus is a prime example of hating Church Growth, saying some good things against it (Ad Fontes Conference, attended by the Ichabods), and joining Rome.

But WELS and Missouri "conservatives" said nothing and did nothing while heavily promoting Church Growth and participating with ELCA in Church Growth projects like the Thrivent Church Membership Initiative.

By emasculating themselves, the "conservative" clergy and laity left the field wide open for the next stage of Church Growth - Emergent Church under such leaders as McLaren, Andy Stanley, and Mark Driscoll.


Emergent Church/Missional Characteristics

1. The parish avoids the denominational name and even the word "church" - as in The CORE, CrossWalk, CrossRoads.
2. The clergypersons (including women pastors) dress like they are going to change the oil in their jalopy, as if they dug the clothes out of the hamper or the rag bin.
3. No liturgy, sound hymns, or creeds in the service.
4. The sermon is replaced by a rant - cussing is really cool and edgy.
5. Music is loud, ecclesiatical rock.
6. Lighting is modeled after rock concert extravaganzas.
7. Doctrinal content is marketed as inclusive, but it is really covert Universalism, lacking the Law and making fun of faith (perfect for the UOJ Hive).
8. Cell groups are essential, mandated, but sound doctrine is a burden, an obstacle.
9. Pulpit views are consistently on the far Left on all social issues - in the name of love.

Andy Stanley and Ski - WELS The Core.
Ski, Tim Glende, and many other WELS disciples have attended Stanley worship conferences.
Gay activist Stanley has been a featured speaker at many Willow Creek conferences:
Missouri and WELS are deep into Willow Creek.
The Ichabods attended WC to observe and later to retch.
John Parlow is a WC disciple and Andy Stanley follower.

Ski posted his account of worship at the Drive conference for many years.
I copied most of it into this blog.
Here is what Stanley said about his gay outreach:
http://ichabodthegloryhasdeparted.blogspot.com/2012/05/mentor-to-ski-glende-parlow-buske-and.html

Kelmed from Ichabod at this link:

http://ichabodthegloryhasdeparted.blogspot.com/2012/05/drive-08-pastors-conference-north-point.html

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

WHO WENT THAT YOU MIGHT KNOW?

Pastor Ski - St. Marcus - Milwaukee

Pastor John Parlow - St. Mark - Depere

Pastor Jim Buske - Lighthouse Youth Center - Milwaukee

HOW LONG WERE WE THERE?

May 3rd - May 7th

WHERE WAS THE CONFERENCE?

North Point (Babtist) Church, Alpharetta, GA

FAVORITE PART OF THE CONFERENCE:

Final Main Session with Andy Stanley

FAVORITE BREAK OUT SESSION:

A Healthy Staff Culture

- Jeff Henderson

FAVORITE QUOTE FROM DRIVE ‘08

“Leaders don’t get people, they attract them”

- Andy Stanley

DRIVE ’08 JOURNAL

Whew!  Day 5, it has been a heck of a road trip.  Today was the last day.  As you can see it was jam packed.  Before I get into Day 5... Let me just say this, “We should have sat in traffic to go to the Brown Bridge Campus!”  Buske & I were bitter.  Remember that I had said John got frustrated sitting the parking lot for 30 minutes?  So we went to dinner & called it a night.  Well, on Day 5 they showed the video for what happened at Brown Bridge.  Sweet cookout, the food looked awesome, games and fellowship outside (without snow or cold, I might add) and then a surprise JEFF FOXWORTHY show.  Man, how are they gonna top that next year?

Anyway, Day 5.  It is kind of crazy, just when you think it can’t get any better, it does.  Well, sort of.  In the morning they had Q & As for different groups.  I went to one that was about linking adults into small group studies.  It was well done, but for me it is difficult because everyone is looking for concrete answers on how to solve their own personal small group issues.  Many of the questions didn’t apply for us at St. Marcus.  However, the leaders were great and had a ton of info.

My final breakout session was entitled Parental Guidance Required.  The leader was Clay Scroggins.  He kind of looked like Steve James (he’s a St. Marcus member, Steve that is) but he talked with a Texas drawl.  He was high energy.  Based on his presentation and his passion for kids, I imagine that he rocked it out with kids.  The gist of his session was that what happens in the home has a greater influence on the spiritual life of children than what happens at church.  Based on that it becomes imperative that parents & the church partner.  Here are the steps that North Point uses:

1. 1.Inform Parents - inform them about what is being taught to their children.
2. 2.Partner With Parents - invite parents to be in an environment with their children.
3. 3.Equip Parents - provide parents with the tools to assist in the spiritual development of their children.

Pretty good points and a really good session.  

After that session we broke for lunch.  John took off for the airport, so Buske and I were on our own.  That might sound a little scary, but it is true.

The final Main Session with Andy Stanley was just phenomenal.  We began with awesome worship.  Today though, they began with a Christian rapper, Toby Mac.  Our school kids would have loved it.  I’m not sure that they would have believed that it was church though.

When Andy began his session.  He started by saying that he was not going to follow his notes in the Drive ’08 Journal Book.  Instead he was going to do something that he called, “Recent Random Thoughts On Church Leadership.”  He shared 5 points and 5 takeaways.  I think that he was at his absolute best this afternoon.  Here are the 5 point & takeaways:

1. 1.To reach people no one else is reaching we must do things no one else is doing.

Takeaway - Become preoccupied with those you haven’t reached as opposed to those you keep.  This is easier said than done.

Wow, it seems so simple.  And yet so hard.

2. 2.The next generation product almost never comes from the previous generation.

Takeaway - Be a student not a critic.

What more can be said?  How do we approach things?  When things are different & involve change are we scared?  Do we criticize or do we look to learn and implement?

3. 3.What do I believe is impossible to do in my field?  But if it could be done it would fundamentally change my business.

Takeaway - Pay attention to the people who are breaking the rules.

Crazy sounding isn’t it?  We can fight technology and change, but in the end it will pass us and we will become archaic and irrelevant.  Not our Message, but the manner in which we present it.  Who would have ever thought texting would be as big as it is?  How about multi-site church?  Video church?  These are all things that have changed how we worship.

4. 4.If we got kicked out & the board brought in a new CEO what would they do?  Why shouldn’t we walk out the door & then come back in & do it ourselves?

Takeaway - Acknowledge what is NOT working & own up to why you are unwilling to change it.

Some thoughts on this - rarely does the church (in general) get concerned about change until they run out of money.  What if we asked some questions before it was too late?

1. a.What’s in decline?
2. b.Where are we manufacturing energy? In other words pretending something is important.  An example would be if I continued to say that Bible Study was important, but never attended.  I’m blowing hot air, “manufacturing energy.”  I don’t believe that anyone wants to stand behind that or get involved in something like that.
3. c.Finally, when are we going to unearth all underlying assumptions?  Sometimes, what we assume, is not the reality.  Are we willing to dig to find out the truth or are we happy with assuming? 
5. 5.When your memories exceed your dreams the end is near.

Takeaway - Don’t let success or momentum overshadow your vision.  Keep the out front.

How quickly can we be satisfied?  How often do we look at things and say, “Well, it’s not great but it is better than such and such church.” Scary, but we sometimes fool ourselves into thinking like this.  Some questions to ponder:

1. a.What the burden on your heart? (sic, yo)
2. b.What breaks your heart?

That was it.  After that Andy just ended and prayed for all the people there & for there ministries.  As you can see from the pictures above, Buske & I got to get a picture with Andy, pretty cool.  He is way down to earth.  His wife Sandra was there also and she is just great.  We actually got to talk to her a little more than Andy.  You also notice John with the North Point member who played Bender in one of their sermon series called “Twisted”.  The series was all about how Satan twists God’s Word.  Finally, there is a photo of Buske & Todd Fields.  I’m a little bitter about that one, but you’ll need to ask me why.

Thanks to everyone who read this while I was gone.  Be looking for some cool stuff that we will be implementing at St. Marcus, especially in Sunday Night.  Thanks also for all the patience.  Writing this thing mostly between 1 AM & 2 AM means that there are probably a ton spelling and grammar mistakes.  I can’t wait to see you guys on Sunday.  Check out the Picture Page for some added photos from Drive ’08.

I’m out!

The CORE, which is only an evening service,
has not grown at all in three years or more.

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Jeske connects all the dots.
He is all about Change
and all about Jeske.